Online Staff Report

Another favorite summertime activity returns to the Rockford Park District this weekend. Three Rockford Park District pools open for the 2012 summer season Saturday, June 9.

Alpine Pool — 4310 Newburg Road, Rockford

• Phone: 815-987-8804; website: www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/pools ^[1]

• 2012 season dates: June 9-Aug. 12

• Open 1-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, and noon-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday

Harkins Aquatics Center — 910 Acorn St., Rockford

• Phone: 815-987-8805; website: www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/pools ^[2]

• 2012 season dates: June 9-Aug. 19

• Open daily, noon-5 p.m.

• Harkins Aquatic Center is free

Sand Park Pool — 1041 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park

• Phone: 815-987-8806; website: www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/pools ^[1]

• 2012 season dates: June 9-Aug. 19

• Open 1-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, and noon-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday

Free Learn to Swim Lesson

The Park District is giving the community the opportunity to learn more about swimming safely by participating in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson, which takes place at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 14, at Alpine Pool, 4310 Newburg Road, Rockford, and Sand Park Pool, 1041 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., and the lesson will last for 45 minutes. The event is hosted by Rockford Park District Learn to Swim instructors, lifeguards and aquatics managers. Staff members will be signaling the beginning and end of the class to make the time official for the world record.

This is a free event for anyone age 5 or older. Donations will be accepted for the Harkins Foundation (either monetary donations or a donation of a child’s swimsuit). All donations fund programs at Harkins Pool (Learn to Swim, Harkins Olympics Junior Lifeguard/Leadership programs, open swim, etc.). Participants will receive a free day pass to Alpine Pool or Sand Park Pool.

The World’s Largest Swim Lesson is sponsored by the World Waterpark Association, and the event will take place simultaneously at waterparks, community pools and aquatic facilities across the country and around the globe at 11 a.m. ET (3 p.m. GMT) in an attempt to break last year’s Guinness World Record.

Posted June 8, 2012